The Press Box. GOLF.

Daly To Return To Pga Tour For Next Week's Memorial

May 24, 1997|By Bob Fischer.

NEW YORK — John Daly, who has not played competitively since entering alcohol rehabilitation following a drunken spree at the Players Championship in March, will return to the PGA Tour next week at the Memorial Tournament.

Daly committed to the Memorial before Friday's 5 p.m. deadline and the PGA Tour planned a news conference for Tuesday to reintroduce Daly to the tour, according to a source close to Daly.

The 31-year-old winner of the 1995 British Open and the 1991 PGA Championship is scheduled to play in a pro-am on Monday in the Pittsburgh area.

The source described Daly as looking great, having lost about 20 pounds, and said Daly is attending regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, something he did not do when he went through alcohol rehab in 1993.

Daly admitted last October he had gone back to drinking, and it was clear he was out of control when he had a lengthy session at a bar on March 27 at the Players Championship. It ended with Daly damaging his hotel room, alarming his wife and withdrawing from the tournament.

Two days later, Daly entered the Betty Ford center for treatment for alcohol abuse. Paulette Daly filed for divorce two weeks later. In another repercussion, Wilson ended its $1 million a year endorsement contract with Daly.